Fallout continues from Nexstar’s layoffs as WPIX, KTLA cut on-air staff

WPIX New York and KTLA Los Angeles also hit with staff cuts, drawing the attention of SAG-AFTRA 

Fresh off of laying off nine employees at WGN-TV Monday, Nexstar made even more cuts on Wednesday, announcing layoffs at its KTLA Los Angeles and WPIX New York (which it operates through Mission Broadcasting) 

KTLA laid off five on-air personnel, including longtime meteorologist Mark Kriski, and midday anchors Lu Parker and Glen Walker. In New York, WPIX axed four on-air personnel, including 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. co-anchor Kori Chambers. 

This came after WGN laid off nine anchors and reporters on Monday, including evening news co-anchor Ray Cortopassi. A south suburban Dolton native, Cortopassi was hired in August 2020 to replace Joe Donlon, who left for NewsNation (and now lead co-anchor at CBS Chicago.) According to the Sun-Times, Cortopassi was laid off in the middle of his shift, with evening co-anchor Micah Materre to helm the 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts alone. 

The Chicago Tribune reported today a few off-air personnel were laid off in creative services, including Debbie Brockman, who was detained by ICE last October. The Tribune also reported that six WGN newswriters and three technical director positions were eliminated last week. 

These actions have drawn the attention of SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents many of these workers at these stations. 

“By laying off journalists across the country, Nexstar is eroding the resources and talent that local communities rely on for trusted news. These actions highlight the risks of media consolidation and underscore the urgent need for regulators and the company to prioritize the public interest and the professionals who serve it,” said SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin in a statement. SAG-AFTRA is currently bargaining with Nexstar in several markets as the company is looking to eliminate severance pay and insert provisions limiting the ability to negotiate terms of their own contracts. Unions for Nexstar’s Rochester stations have already fought with the broadcaster over those same issues. 

Meanwhile, the backlash against Nexstar among Chicago journalists is strong, as they voiced their displeasure with how their now-former WGN colleagues were treated:

The layoffs come as Nexstar is closing in on its $6.8 billion merger with rival broadcaster Tegna. Nexstar expects the merger to close by June 30 pending FCC approval, which could come very soon as FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and President Donald Trump have signaled they will support the deal and would issue waivers to the company if needed. Nexstar defended the layoffs to The Desk, stating the company was “taking steps necessary to compete effectively in this unprecedented change”, despite telling federal regulators that allowing more media consolidation would level the playing field between tech giants Amazon and Netflix, and to maintain investments in local news.

But what we’re seeing is a disinvestment in local news by firing these journalists – especially in Chicago, where our city is historically regarded as a serious news town. 

With the acquisition of Tegna, we could see more layoffs, especially in St. Louis and Indianapolis, where Nexstar will own two newsrooms that will consolidate if the Justice Department approves the deal with no conditions. One could wonder how this would help journalism, let alone help it – or maybe this is what Trump meant when he said he wanted to compete against the “fake news” by reducing legitimate news sources, and Nexstar chairman Perry Sook is all too happy to oblige.